Muffler for steam and gas engines



C. S. SHUMAN AND S. S. HANSON.

MUFFLER FOR STEAM AND GAS ENGINES.

APPLICAT'ON FILED DEC. 22,1919.

nucuiow Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEEF l,

C. S. SHUMAN AND S. S. HANSON. MUFFLER FOR STEAM AND GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, I9I9. 1,351,698 Patented Aug. 31,1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET Z.

C S. SHUMAN AND S. S. HANSON. MUFFLER FOR STEAM AND GAS ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 050.22, 1919.

1 35 1 698. Patented g- 31, 1920.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES CHARLES S. SHUMAN AND SOREN SCOTT HANSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO VACUUM MUFFLER CORPORATION OF AMERICA, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COR- PORA'IION OF NEW YORK.

MUFFLER FOR STEAM AND GAS ENGINES.

Application filed December 22, 1919.

To all [.(il-OIH it may concern:

lle it known that we, CHARLES S. SHUMAN and SonnN Sco'rr Hanson, citizens of the United States of America, and residents of New York city, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mufilers for Steam and (las Engines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. 7

()ur invention relates to nmfllers or silencers for the exhaust of steam engines and all types of internal combustion motors.

The muflier is made entirely of cast iron, and the several parts are so fitted together that but three bolts are required to hold all the parts in assembled position.

The construction is such that the gases entering the mufller are first divided into a plurality of parts, and each part is separately expanded, so that there will be successive expanding layers that are subsequently united and passed over cooling bafiles or directing ribs into a silent or substantially silent discharge.

The several parts individually, as well as the assemblage, are symmetrical with re spect to the longitudinal axis, so that the expansion and contraction of the cast iron will be symmetrical, and will present a neat appearance when on a car.

The outlet is in alinement with the inlet.

Referring to the drawings-- Figure 1 shows the muffler partly in elevation and partly in horizontal section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view showing the under side of one of the casing members.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section, and

F ig. 4 is a bottom view of one of'the plates.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, and

Fig. 6 a horizontal section of a modification.

Fig. 7 is a modification of the directing spirals shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The muffler comprises two plate-like casing members 1 and 2 of cast iron, having marginal flanges 3 and 1 respectively. These Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1920.

Serial No. 346,670.

flanges are preferably curved, and one of them, for example a, is 'irovided on its edge with a groove 5, and the other flange with a bead G fitting into the groove 5. It is immaterial on which flange the groove or the bead is located.

These two members constitute a box-like casing inclosing and cooperating with one or more other plates for sub-dividing, expanding and cooling the gases.

The casing member 1 contains an inlet boss 7, and the member 2 contains an outlet boss 8 for the cooled gases, both in alinement. The member 2 also has a number of concei'itric bai'lle flanges 9, preferably but not necessarily circular, the inner one of which i) is shorter than the others and registers with the outlet boss 8, or rather is an inwardly directed extension of the boss 8.

The out-flange or ballle S)" is also prefer ably but not necessarily shorter than the flanges 9, while flange 9 is shorter than the others.

The casing member 2 has a plurality of spacing lugs 10, Fig. 1, there being threesuch lugs about 120 apart. These lugs are located between the outer ring baflic 9 and the next inner battle 9. Through the member 2 also pass the bolts 11 that hold all the parts assembled.

Cooperating with the member 2 is a plate: like member 12, Fig. 4, whose outer edges 12" are curved down toward the casing member-2. This member 12 also has concentric baflle flanges 13, that fit between the bailles 9 of member 2. The member 12 is provided with spacing lugs 14, preferably three, spaced about 120 apart, that hold said member 12 concentric with member 2, so that the baffles 13 will be about midway between adjacent baflies 9 of easing member 2.

One of the bafiies 13, here shown as the outer one, rests on the spacing lugs 10, Fig. 1, on member 2 to maintain the proper space between edges of the baffles S) and 13 and the surfaces of the members 12 and 2 respectively, whereby passages 5 for gases are formed from the periphery to the central discharge at 9 The member 12 has a central core 15 on its under face directed toward the inner ba'liie 9 and a central distributing cone 16 on its upper face. The upper face of plate 12 also is provided with spacing lugs, 17.

The outer edge of the plate 12 is notched at 18 for the passage of bolts 11.

Resting on the plate 11. are one or more superposed similar plates of cast iron, and in the particular construction illustrated we have shown three, 19, 2t) and 21.

The plates 19, 20 and 21 have their outer edges or marginal portions curved downward, and the plates preferably increase slightly in diameter. so that the space be tween the outer edge of the uppermost plate 21 and the casing flange 3 is the smallest, and the space between the edge of plate 12 and flange l will be the largest to accommodate the progressive additions of layers of gases from between the several plates as they flow to the battles.

Each plate, 19, 20 and 21 is provided on its upper smooth surtace with, preferably, three spacing lugs 22 and a central flared or conical nozzle. The nozzle 23 on plate 19 is the smallest nozzle, that 2% on plate 20 is the larger, and nozzle 25 is the largest; each projects into the one next above, and the nozzle 25 ot' the uppermost plate projects slightly into the inlet boss 7. These concentric nozzles are therefore spaced from one another by reason of their increase in size from the lowermost plate to the upper most plate. These conical nozzles subdivide the solid stream of gas into a plurality'ot concentric parts and direct each part separately in a layer between adjacent plates to expand. and cool it, after which the several cooled parts of gas are again united and further cooled by passing through the passages between the ball'les.

Each plate has a series 01 radial ribs 26 on the flat portion of its under surface, and like ribs are also formed on'the lat portion of the inner face of easing member 3 surrounding the inlet 8. These ribs 26 may all be of the same length for the several plates, or may be progressively shorter from the plate 19 to the casing member 1, as illus trated in Fig. 3.

The arrows Fig. 3 show the course of the gases. Each concentric portion of the gases separated from the solid stream of gases by the conical or flared nozzles 23, 2% and 25, is deflected laterally and passes between the radial ribs. During their passage-lmtxveen these ribs 26, the gases are not only cooled materially by the expansion in a direction transverse to said ribs, 6., in a direction peripherally of these plates, but are also greatly cooled by conduction, transferring their heat to the cast iron. from which it is radiated to the atmosphere. This decreases materially the volume of the gases and the several streams of gas fiow over the edge of their respective plates into the peripheral chamber a increasing in volume toward the battles 9 and 13 between which they are subjected to further cooling, and are finally discharged from the mufller in an almost noiseless stream.

It will be noted that we have shown the lugs 22, there being three on each plate, as raising the lower edges of the radial ribs slightly above the plate below them. These lugs may be omitted, but they are desirable as a casting expedient.

The ribs are long and narrow and in making castings from the same pattern there are apt to be formed projections on the edges of the ribs, due to various reasons. By making these lugs on the upper faces of the plates they can be readily ground otl by an emery'grinder, so that all the parts fit tightly together, notwithstanding slight irregularities in casting. It the edges of the ribs rested directly on the plain surfaces of the plates, a special grinding tool or face grinder would have to be used, and much more skill and time taken in fitting the parts together. As it is, each plate has but three point contact with the plate on which it rests.

The mufller does not clog, is readily taken apart by removing the nuts on the bolts 11, when all the parts may be lifted out.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown a modification of the arrangement of the vanes 26 and 26 forming nozzles at the center. These vanes are substantially l-shaped, and alternate with one another. Their smaller free ends are alternately directed upward and downward, so that one-halt off the vanes 26" are formed with their longer edge on one plate, as on the'plates 1, 21, 20 and 19, and the other one-half of the vanes 26 are formed on the other plate, as on plates 12, 19, 20 and 2.1. The plates 19, 20 and 21 have vanes on both faces.

It will be noted that the outer inclined ends of the vanes 26 and 26 substantially cross one another at quite a little distance from the periphery of their respective plates, thus ollering a better discharge of the gases, as well as facilitating the casting.

The batlles or ribs 9 and 13 in this con struction are alterately formed on the plate 12 and on the casing plate 2 and are helically directed toward the central discharge at 8, so that the gases may pass over and under them, and at the same time pass longitudinally along them in a spiral direction, and thereby be given a whirling movement toward the outlet boss 8.

This facilitates the silencing of the gases without materially impeding their flow in their escape from the mui'l'ler after the gases have reached their maximum expansion.

These ribs or battles 9" and 13 carry the gases to the central outlet without any appreciable resistance or back pressure, and after the gases have been once set in circular motion it appears that their escape is most beneficially aided. The length of these ribs 9 and 13 and their number will depend upon the size and capacity of the mullier.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown these ribs as arranged alternately on plates 2 and 12. However, this is not important, as they may all be arranged on one or the other of said plates, and their direction, whether right handed or left-handed, is immaterial.

In Fig. 7 We have shown a further modified arrangement of these ribs, the structure being such that they are longer, soth-at the gases \vil lhave to travel a greater distance and receive a more intense whirling action before reaching the outlet boss 8. in this case also, the spiral ribs 9 and 13 may either be all on one plate or alternately on opposite plate.

The spiral ribs may in these instances be made to lit tightly at their edges against the plate opposite to the one with which they are integral, whereby there will be little or no flow in a zig-zag direction over their edges.

For taking care of small quantity of ex liaust gases, plates 19, 2t) and 21. may be omitted, and the flanges 3 and 4 of the casing members i and 2 be correspondingly shortened.

We claim-- 1.. The method oi? mulliing engine exhausts, which comprises subdividing the engine exhaust into a plurality of concentric portions, separately directing said portions into parallel layers at substantially right angles to the direction of initial flow, expanding and thereby cooling each layer separately, discharging and expanding the cooled gases directly into an expanding chamber and passing the united expanded gases over cooling surfaces into the direction of initial flow.

2. The method of muliling engine exhausts, which comprises subdividing the exhaust into a plurality of concentric portions and separately directing said portions into parallel layers at substantially right angles to the direction of initial flow, subdividing each layer into numerous expanding streams, uniting the expanded streams of each layer and the discharges of the several layers and conducting them over cooling surfaces into the direction of initial flow.

The method of mutlling engine exhausts, which comprises sub-dividing the engine exhaust into a plurality of concentric portions separately, directing said portions into parallel layers at substantially right angles to the direction of initial flow, expanding and thereby cooling each layer separately, uniting the expanding and cool ing gases and passing the united expanded gases in a spiral direction to the discharge.

l. T he method of mufliing engine exhausts, which comprises subdividing the engine exhaust into a plurality of concentric portions. directing said portions into parallel layers at substantially right angles to the direction of initial flow. uniting the expanding and cooling gases and passing the united expanded gases in a spiral and zig-zag direction to the discharge.

5. An engine exhaust muiller comprising a casing. a plurality of plates therein having central nozzles of different sizes, said plates terminating at ditlerent distances from the sides of the casing thereby forming a chamber whose volume progressively increases in the direction of flow, and a series of ribs forming a zig-zag course terminating in, an outlet.

6. An engine exhaust muffler comprising a casing, a plurality of plates therein having central nozzles of different sizes, said plates terminating at different distances from the sides of the casing thereby forming a champ ber whose volume progressively increases in the direction of flow, and 'a series of ribs forming a spiral passage terminating in an outlet.

7. An engine exhaust mulller comprising a casing, means for sub dividing the exhaust within the casing into a plurality of layers in which each exhaust portion is separately expanded radially, a chamber between the edges of said means and the inner wall of the casing in which the discharge from the several layers is united, and a series of curved ribs directing said discharge to a central outlet.

8. An engine exhaust niufiier comprisinga two-part casing, one of said parts having an inlet boss and. ribs on its inner surface, and the other of said parts having a series of ribs terminating at an outlet port, and a plate having a stream diverting cone on each face and one of its faces having a series of ribs cooperating with the ribs on the casing part to form a zig-zag passage spiral streams to said outlet.

9. An engine exhaust muffler comprising i. circular two-part casing, one of said parts having a. central inlet boss and radial ribs on its inner surface, and the other of said parts having a series of curved spaced ribs surrounding an outlet boss, and a circular plate Whose marginal portions are curved toward said other casing part and having a central diverting cone on each face, and one of the faces of said plate having a series of concentric spaced ribs cooperating with the ribs on said other casing portion to form a zig-zag passage to the outlet boss, and spacing lugs for properly spacing the plate with respect to the casing.

10. An engine exhaust muiller comprising a cast-iron circular casing consisting of two parts, one of the parts having a central inlet boss and radial vanes on its inner surface, and the other part having a series of curved ribs arranged. around a central outlet boss and one or more elements contained within said casing for cooperating with said vanes and ribs.

11. An engine exhaust inull'ler comprising a two-part circular casing having a central inlet and a central outiet, a series of curved ribs formed on the casing concentric with said outlet, a circular plate, a series of curved ribs on one face of said plate and a directing cone on each face thereof, said ribs coiiperatinp with the ribs on the casing, to form a Zia-nag passage from the periphery of the plate to the central outlet, and one or more plates each having a central flared non zle on its upper face and radial vanes on its lower face, said plates spaced progressively from the sides of the casing thereby forming a chai'nber enlarging toward said Zia-nag passage.

12. An engine exhaust muffler comprising a two-part circular "asing having, a central inlet and a central outlet, a series of curved ribs of different elevations formed on the casing concentric with said outlet, :1. cir cular plate having; a downwardly curved niargrin, a series of curved ribs of the same height on one face of said plate and a directing cone on each face thereof, said ribs cooperating with the ribs on the casing to form a zig-zag passage from the periphery of the plate to the central outlet. and one or more plates each having" a central flared nozzle on its upper face and radial 'anes on its lower face, and a downwardly curved niar ginal portion, said plates spaced progressively from the sides of the casing, thereby foriningga chamber enlarging toward said wig-zap; passage. and three bolts passing through said casing and plates to hold the parts assembled.

13. In an engine niutlier plate arranged across the direction of flow of the gases, radial vanes on opposed plates, the vanes of one plate alternating with those on the opposite plate and the vanes substantially tri angular, whereby their outer tapering ends will substantially cross thereby forming an annular \Lshaped chamber between the plates at their periphery.

1- In an engine niul'ller, means to divide the gas stream into concentric portions, means to radially direct and subdivide each portion into a plurality of radially expandin;- streams. nieans combining the streams of each portion, and means for spirally directin; the gas to an outlet.

In testimony that. we claim the foregoing as our invention, we have signed our names.

CHi iRLl lS dHUhilAN. SURE SCOTT HANSON. 

